updated 08:00 am EDT, Thu September 4, 2014

HighPoint Technologies has launched the "world's first" Thunderbolt 2-powered connectivity dock, the RocketStor 6351A. Each of the dual five-gigabit-per-second USB 3.0 ports and 6Gb per second eSATA port is powered by dedicated controller, allowing for peak speed for connected peripherals. Audio and Gigabit Ethernet ports round out connectivity options, with a pass-through Thunderbolt 2 port to daisy chain up to five devices downstream of the dock.

Each 5Gb per second USB 3.0 port can be used as a charging station, and supports Rapid Charging Modes for Apple iOS devices. The RocketStor 6351A intelligently manages the flow of power to avoid overcharging. In addition, the RocketStor 6351A can charge devices without a Thunderbolt connection, as long as the device is plugged into AC power.

The RocketStor 6351A is compatible with Windows 7 and OS X 10.8.6 and later. It retails for $299 without a Thunderbolt cable, and $339 with, and ships in September.